News Release

Voyageurs National Park Celebrates 50th Birthday

Date: March 31, 2025
Contact: Katherine Severson, [phone]

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK, Minn. — On April 8, Voyageurs National Park will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. In collaboration with Voyageurs Conservancy, a variety of special events and programming, community partnerships, and other exciting initiatives will be hosted throughout the year.Established in 1975, Minnesota’s national park has inspired adventure, connection, and conservation for five decades. Governor Tim Walz will honor the half-century milestone by proclaiming April 8, 2025, “Voyageurs National Park Day” in Minnesota, and the anniversary is quickly followed by National Park Week, April 19-27, 2025.Signed into law by President Richard Nixon, the establishment of Voyageurs National Park was designed to "preserve, for the inspiration and enjoyment of present and future generations, the outstanding scenery, geological conditions, and waterway system which constituted a part of the historic route of the Voyageurs who contributed significantly to the opening of the Northwestern United States."Voyageurs spans more than 218,000 acres of dozens of lakes, forests and streams in northern Minnesota. The primarily water-based and certified Dark Sky Park is one of the state’s top natural destinations and presents some of the darkest skies in the U.S.For details on special events and programming, visit 50th Anniversary - Voyageurs National Park (U.S. National Park Service) andwww.voyageurs.org/50th.

Celebrate and Connect with Voyageurs throughout 2025: 

• NPS Archives Tour – On April 8, celebrate the park’s rich history by joining park archivist, Catherine Crawford, who will share a behind-the-scenes look at rare archival materials, historic documents, and artifacts. More information about the park headquarters’ open house event in International Falls, plus a virtual webinar can be found at Voyageurs.org/2025archives.
• Raise a Canteen to 50 Years of Voyageurs National Park – Join us in raising a canteen as we celebrate the park’s past, present and future. On our April 8 birthday and throughout the year, we are inviting passionate park travelers and supporters to raise a toast to the park’s legacy by sharing stories, memories, and appreciation for Voyageurs on social media using #Voyageurs50.

• Celebrate National Park Week, April 19 through 27 – Connect with Voyageurs Conservancy at the Strib Unbound event on April 26 at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Twin Cities area schools are also encouraged to register for a Voyageurs Mobile Classroom visit during National Park Week.

• Voyageurs 50th Birthday Party in Minneapolis – In May, celebrate Voyageurs National Park’s half-century milestone with a festive birthday bash hosted by Voyageurs Conservancy at Utepils Brewery. Enjoy interactive national park exhibits, live music, and a special 50th anniversary brew. More details coming soon.
• Voyageurs Photo Contest – Heading into the summer season, park enthusiasts can participate in the Voyageurs Conservancy Photo Contest and Voyageurs 50th Summer Sweepstakes, for a chance to win a Voyageurs getaway package, gift cards, exclusive park merchandise and more. Visit Voyageurs.org/50th and subscribe to the Conservancy’s e-newsletter to receive more details and contest announcements.
• Voyageurs Scavenger Hunt – Later this spring, complete a scavenger hunt on the park’s Oberholtzer Trail near the Rainy Lake Visitor Center to receive a 50th anniversary prize. Additionally, a special 50th anniversary park passport stamp will be available at park visitor centers this summer.

• Crane Lake Visitor Center Grand Opening – The new visitor center will serve as a discovery hub for those exploring eastern Voyageurs National Park. A grand opening event on June 6 will celebrate the landscapes and stories that shaped this region.

• Voyageurs at the Minnesota State Fair – Visit with Voyageurs staff at the Minnesota State Fair August 21st through 23rd to meet park experts, enter to win Voyageurs-inspired prizes, and learn about Minnesota’s national park.
• Park Merchandise and Prints – Limited-edition Voyageurs 50th merchandise and new art will be available for purchase with partners and in park visitor centers, including a special park poster created by Northern Minnesota-based artist, Sam Zimmerman.
• Park-After-Dark Programs, Summer 2025 – The Park and the Conservancy will host regular community telescope sessions and expert-led night sky tours with more details announced this spring.

• Voyageurs Star Party, August 29 & 30 – This astronomy festival will feature expert speakers from NASA, volunteer astronomers, night sky education sessions, guided night sky canoe and boat tours, telescope sessions and more under the Milky Way. Details will be available soon at voyageurs.org/starparty.

• Park Artist-In-Residence Symphony Debut – Composer Marko Bajzer, a recent Voyageurs artist-in-residence, will debut an original symphony orchestra piece, “Sky-Tinted Water,” inspired by the landscapes of Voyageurs National Park. Concerts will take place at venues throughout Minnesota next fall to commemorate the 50th.

All 50th anniversary events are open to the public, though some may require advance registration. To stay up-to-date on Voyageurs’ 50th festivities throughout the year, visit voyageurs.org/50th. Follow @VoyageursNPS and @VoyageursConservancy on Instagram and Facebook, and join the celebration using #Voyageurs50.

“Anniversaries offer a moment in time for us to reflect on the past and envision the future. On this golden anniversary of Voyageurs National Park, we celebrate not just the breathtaking beauty of its lakes and forests, but the enduring spirit of adventure and connection to nature that it inspires in all who visit. May the next 50 years continue to preserve and honor the tranquility and wonder of this cherished landscape.” said Voyageurs National Park Superintendent, Bob DeGross. “The story of the park is not just in its landscapes, but the story of people connected to the land. From the Tribal Nations connected to the area for millennia; to early settlers seeking wealth and resources; to those who sold long held family properties so the area could be protected for generations to come. These waterways have carried those stories for time immemorial and will continue to do so into the future.”   

About Voyageurs National Park Voyageurs National Park spans 218,000+ acres of natural beauty in northern Minnesota, offering a year-round adventure wonderland of ancient exposed rock ridges, cliffs, wetlands, forests, streams, and dozens of lakes. Established in 1975, the primarily water-based park is named after the French-Canadian Voyageurs who once navigated these border waters. Whether exploring by land, water, or ice, there’s something for everyone.Voyageurs National Park is located on the Minnesota-Canadian border, approx. 5 hours north of Minneapolis-St. Paul and 2.5 hours north of Duluth, Minn.Voyageurs is one of a few national parks to offer free year-round entry with access via four main gateway communities, including International Falls/Rainy Lake, Lake Kabetogama, Ash River and Crane Lake.

About Voyageurs ConservancyVoyageurs Conservancy, the official charitable partner of Voyageurs National Park, is a community of people dedicated to preserving, protecting, and sharing the unique experience of Minnesota’s only national park. The Conservancy works directly with the National Park Service to support conservation and recreation projects, advance education and outreach, and protect the wild nature of the park.